4thbender

Much as I've been entertained greatly at Owlerton by Richard, his away form has never met expectations, he misses meetings to make excursions on the continent to race in long track meetings and his fallout with the promotion last year virtually guaranteed that his goose is cooked as far as Sheffield is concerned. Pity really, I rather liked him.

How about newly-retired Doug Wyer?

In my very first season as a fan of the shale sport - 1966 - I remember Bob Paulson being hotly tipped (with sound justification) to be future championship material. In that same season he was involved in the crash at Cradley Heath that saw the tragic death of Ivor Hughes, and subsequently succombed to two shoulder injuries in quick succession, each one costing him several weeks on the sidelines. Although Bob went on to be a much-respected and loyal servant of Sheffield - ultimately becoming a cup-winning captain - he never fulfilled the promise of those early years. I think the 1966 season took a lot out of Bob in lots of different ways, but one of my abiding memories of speedway is of Bob beating Barry Briggs in four scintillating laps in a British semi-final at Owlerton. Sheer poetry!

Frank Varey - not only for being one of the world's most outrageously daring riders (el Diablo Rojo) but also for being the good and faithful servant of the sport he loved by promoting it far and wide, and for perfecting the art of preparing the perfect racing surface (a legacy which has set the standard which is still maintained to this day at Owlerton).